A man declined to switch seats with an elderly couple aboard a plane. Citing that he had ‘paid extra’ for his assigned seat. Flying can be a hassle, even in the most favorable circumstances, with factors like crying infants, and unreliable onboard restrooms. On top of that, the frenzy of duty-free enthusiasts.
It’s reasonable that none of us would want to handle a sudden seat swap in such circumstances. Nevertheless, this was precisely the predicament faced by a gentleman who firmly turned down a request from an elderly couple to exchange seats—providing a rather valid explanation for his decision.
Seeking the advice of others, the man took to Reddit regarding the request to switch seats
The man decided to share his uncomfortable experience on Reddit. He titled his post: “Old couple tries to take our seats on a plane. “He began by describing how he and his partner had meticulously planned a three-month journey around the world.
Their first flight, a lengthy 12-13 hour journey from New Zealand, prompted the man to take extra measures to ensure a comfortable experience. “We carefully booked and paid for our flights. Specifically selecting premium economy seats due to my height of 6’3″ and the desire for additional legroom,” he explained.
Although the “premium economy seats” came at an additional cost of $60, the man believed that comfort and avoiding excruciating leg cramps for half a day were worth every penny. The flight was operated by Air New Zealand, known for displaying passengers’ names on the seat screens upon arrival.
Upon boarding, the man and his partner discovered that another older couple (in their mid-70s) had occupied their assigned seats. “I politely inquired if they may have mistaken their seat numbers,” the man wrote. “However, they confirmed that they hadn’t.”
Read: ‘I refuse to switch plane seats so couples or families can sit together’
The man proceeded to display his ticket and pointed out his name on the screen to the older couple, refusing to switch seats with them
“They then requested that I sit in their seats, which were located 10 rows back,” the man recounted, mentioning that the proposed seats lacked legroom.
He then shared the dialogue that took place between him and the older couple, which was far from smooth:
- Man: “You want me to sit in your seats?“
- Older Couple: “Yes, that would be nice, thank you.”
- Man: “I paid extra for these seats and would like to sit in them. Please move to your seats.“
- Older Couple: “Oh, it’s not that bad. There’s plenty of legroom.”
- Man: “Yes, there’s plenty of legroom in my seats because I paid for it. I’ll help move your bag if you need.”
At this point, a flight attendant intervened, as the line in the aisle was becoming long.
According to the man’s account, the older couple exclaimed to the flight attendant, “This man wants us to switch seats!” The staff member instructed them to return to their assigned seats. The man presented his ticket to the flight attendant. Clarifying, “Here is my ticket; these people are sitting in my seats. I paid extra because I need the legroom.”
The flight attendant then informed the older couple, “Excuse me, you will have to move to your own seats as you have not paid for these seats.” Taking it a step further, the older couple asked the staff member if they could receive an upgrade after the whole ordeal. However, they were informed that the flight was full and upgrading was impossible.
Understandably, the older couple was disappointed and expressed their displeasure, leading the Reddit user to describe their reaction as a “Pikachu face,” referencing an internet meme that portrays a surprised expression. “I received some disapproving looks from other passengers on the flight,” he concluded. “I paid for the extra legroom, and I need it.” Would you switch seats on a flight?
Even More Seat Switching High Jinks: Delta Flight Attendant Tells Dad To Give Up His Kid’s Seat or Go To Jail
Keep Reading: Flight Attendant Won’t Let Plane Leave Until Passengers Clean Up Mess Dropped In The Aisle
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